In its most recent attempt to isolate Pakistan through disinformation and further its narrative, Indian media has published a total fabrication of events using statements of a retired Pakistan Army officer.
On Wednesday, online publication India Today published a false account of statements made by Lt. Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib. The India today article claims that the ex-ISI officer said that Indian spy and terrorist Kulbhushan Jadhav had been kidnapped from Iran. The ‘fake news’, was then spread by Indian newspapers then went on to pick up the story and cited India today report as their evidence.
Read More: Pak army disregards Indian claims of destroying Pak check post
The Indian media has ramped up its campaign to discredit Pakistan in front of the international community. The facts are that Lt. Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib never served in the ISI and has made no such statements. GVS reached out to the former army officer for his views on the situation. “I have never served in the ISI. I haven’t even been to its headquarters” stated the retired general.
“I have been living a retired life for 18 years. All of my army contacts have retired. I am a private citizen, my opinions are my own. They do not represent the position of Pakistan’s military or civil establishment” he said.
Regarding the source of these allegations, he clarified: “The basis of these false claims is a doctored video clip of me expressing my opinion on Pakistan’s foreign policy regarding Iran. My statements were twisted by the Indian media to serve its baseless narrative.”
“This is not the first time Indian media has twisted my words. They previously did something similar with my statements on CPEC. I had said that CPEC would only benefit China and not Pakistan IF Pakistan did not do its homework. They purposefully left out the ‘if’ part and proceeded to air headlines which indicated that Pakistani generals for some reason did not agree with CPEC. Tampering statements is an old practice of the Indian media” he added.
The article in question also stated that these “statements” should be quoted at the International Court of Justice, where India and Pakistan are currently embroiled in a legal battle over the death sentence of Jadhav.
Just yesterday, on Tuesday, The Indian media published an undated video of a ramshackle structure being fired upon and destroyed. They proceeded to claim that it was a Pakistani border check post. The DG ISPR rubbished these claims and categorically stated that Indian allegations of Pakistani intrusions are baseless.
PR275/17
Indian claims of destroying Pakistani post along LOC in Naushera Sec and firing by Pak Army on civilians across LOC are false.— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) May 23, 2017
#WATCH Pakistani posts destroyed by Indian Army in Nowshera (Jammu and Kashmir) pic.twitter.com/whrWb0wMfg
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 23, 2017
Analysts believe that the recent propagation of disinformation by the Indian media, the claims of its soldiers being mutilated by Pakistani special forces and the two instances mentioned above, are part of a ploy to distract attention from Indian atrocities in Kashmir. These false allegations are also being used as justification for escalating hostilities on the border.
These preposterous lies seem to be part of India’s strategy to try and weaken Pakistan on the international stage so that it may continue to pursue its aspirations of a hegemonic state in the region.
The article in question also stated that these “statements” should be quoted at the International Court of Justice, where India and Pakistan are currently embroiled in a legal battle over the death sentence of Jadhav.
Read More: Increasing anti-Pakistan rhetoric: What is making India more adventurous?
The situation in Kashmir is coming to a head and it is becoming evident to the Indians that their grip on the region is increasingly weakening. Former chief of RAW, India’s premier spy agency, A. S. Daulat stated in a recent interview “Wake up, wake up. The situation is quite bad, and don’t tell me Pakistan is not a party to this problem. Whether you like it or not, you have to talk to Pakistan”.
These preposterous lies seem to be part of India’s strategy to try and weaken Pakistan on the international stage so that it may continue to pursue its aspirations of a hegemonic state in the region.